If job interviews were graded, I would get an F minus.

Or should I say, cooperative education. It’s when a school tries to integrate classroom learning with real-life work experience. Northeastern, which is built on the philosophy of “experiential education,” drives this point hard with its students. The majority of kids at NU get some sort of work experience while going here, whether it be an internship, volunteering, or, of course, the famous co-op.

In this context, co-op refers to a 6-month long time where a student doesn’t take classes and works full-time instead. There are a lot of variations of the co-op (like, 4-month co-ops, part-time co-ops where kids pick up a second job as well, etc.) I want the full shebang, though. 6 months. Full-time. Working in a company.

Last I checked, NU actually has the #1 Career Services in the nation. We’ve got lots of resources to help kids get jobs, not to mention a lot of connections to potential employers. However, this doesn’t mean that an NU kid will be handed a job on a silver platter.

Like with finding any job, we have to go through the whole process. Including:

That’s right. I’ve been interviewing. It’s been a, uh, terrifying process, to say the least. I mean, the only other time I’ve interviewed for a job was when I applied to McDonald’s. And that doesn’t even count as an interview.

So I went to my first real interviews last week. The company I was interviewing with happened to be a larger one, with several different departments. However, candidates were not told which branch they were interviewing with until the actual meeting itself. (The job description was just a very generalized “Research Assistant.”) In other words, I went with really no knowledge of what exactly I was interviewing for.

Thus, I had an interview that looked like this.

This was off to a good start. And then it gets even better.

And to kick it off:

So I didn’t get that job.

(But never fear! I actually got hired for that company, under a different department. That guy seemed to like my rants about the importance of organization and how awesome research is. And I took the job. Coming in January: Vy is gainfully employed!)

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29 thoughts on “If job interviews were graded, I would get an F minus.”

HAHAAAA!!! Nice reference there to Gangnam Style. It’s not like I’ve already seen HUNDREDS OF THESE STUPID REFERENCES ALREADY, SO FOR YOU TO JUST PILE ANOTHER REFERENCE OF GANGNAM STYLE ONTO MY RIDICULOUS LOAD OF THAT RIDICULOUS SONG!!! YEAH, THAT’S OKAY!!!! But, seriously, good ol’ PSY is #2 on YouTube’s most watched video of all time, and a real contender to hit that crazy 1E9 (one billion) mark. Today is intense Monday. Get intense with the whitest kids- I mean, dumbest things you know. (GASP!!) Do I see Question Corner below?!

No, Justin Bieber’s Baby ft. Ludacris is currently #1 with 802,000,000 views, and PSY’s Gangnam Style is #2 with 773,000,000 views. But, Gangnam Style is rising at ridiculous speeds, so in a few days it will become #1 (only two days ago it had 753,000,000 views).

News Broadcaster: …so, I was like, “Yeah, right! As if you did that with ALL of those girls at once!” I mean, “how could he even find that many girls to play Halo 4 with?”
Camera man: Sir! We’ve been on for the past four seconds.
News Broadcaster: WHAT? Tell me next time! I mean, uhhh… Welcome to Question Corner! Wait, why did I say that? Anyway, in recent news, the famed Japanese manga artist, Eeijiro Ooada. Am I pronouncing this right?
Executive: Eiichiro Oda.
News Broadcaster: …Eiichiro Oda was kidnapped! Eyewitnesses say that two of the kidnappers are named Scott and Jerry and that their leader, whose name is unknown, has recently starred in a porn movie, but unfortunately his name was not mentioned in movie. Trust me. We all watched it. Multiple times. Everyone at this studio can confirm with absolute certainty that the man’s name did NOT appear in the movie. We REALLY wanted to know his name.
Executive: We are SO fired.
News Broadcaster: So, what are these horrible villains doing to Eiichiro Oda? Are they torturing him, chopping off his limbs, forcing him to appear in one of those porn movies. Because that would be cool. I’ve always wanted to see an Asian–(PUNCH!!)
Different News Broadcaster: Um… that news caster has just suffered a serious heart attack and it looks like he’s dying.
Original News Broadcaster: WHAT?! I’M FINE!! YOU JUST PUNCHED–(BANG! BANG! BANG!)
Different News Broadcaster: Yep, looks like the paramedic couldn’t get to him in time.
Executive (talking to paramedic): When you hold a gun, do you use two hands or just one?
Different News Broadcaster: But the question still remains, “What are they doing to Eiichiro Oda?”

Me, Scott, and Eiichiro Oda: “LET’S MAKE THE MOST OF THE NIGHT LIKE WE’RE GONNA DIE YOUNG!!”
Jerry (whispering): Stupid boss with stupid artist singing stupid Kesha.
Me, Scott, and Eiichiro Oda: “HEARTS, OUT OUR MINDS, RUN UNTIL WE OUTTA TIME. WILD CHILDS, LOOKIN’ GOOD. LIVIN’ HARD JUST LIKE WE SHOULD! DON’T CARE WHOSE WATCHING WHEN WE TEARING IT UP!!”
Jerry: Please stop singing that song!!
Eiichiro Oda: “YOU KNOW!”
Me: “THAT MAGIC THAT WE GOT NOBODY CAN TOUCH!”
Jerry: aaahhhhhhh.
Scott: “FOR SURE!!”
Me: HAHAHAAA!! Relax, Jerry. Even Oda-him is singing along!
Eiichiro Oda: “LOOKING FOR SOME TROUBLE TO-”
Me: Yeah, that’s enough.
Jerry: Thank you.
Scott: So, “Me.” Assassin’s Creed or Halo.
Me: Assassin’s Creed, of course.
Scott: Jerry?
Jerry: Professor Layton.
Scott: Well, the point is to-
Jerry: I only play stuff like Layton, Tetris and Picross.
Scott: Jerry, you’re very boring.
Jerry: Your mom’s boring.
(Brakes slam on car)
Me, Scott: WHAT?!
Me: You never show any emotion or jokes or ANYTHING!
Eiichiro Oda: I thought you were some kind of cyborg, you know like-
Me: Franky. Yes, yeah. We know. Except, Franky isn’t some sort of blank weirdo!
Scott: WAIT!!! You guys hear something?!
Eiichiro Oda: Kind of sounds like a ヘリコプター I mean, helicopter.
(Silence)
(Faint sound)
(Sound growing)
(Cool helicopter sound)
(Sound of idiots sitting in a van listening to the cool sound of a helicopter)
Me: Ah. So, relaxing.
Jerry: And, just when it really shouldn’t be. I mean, they’re coming to kill us.
Me: Yeeaaaahhhh. Scott, you should probably go.
Eiichiro Oda: Aw, I want to listen to the sound more.
Scott: Don’t be such a Luffy. We..need…to get…out of…here.
Me: Yeah,…get…out of here…..Aaahhhhh…I feel like…this every WEDNESDAY!! JERRY!!!
WHY IS YOUR MARIJUANA ON FIRE!!!
Jerry: I don’t actually have drugs; that was just a joke from a previous Question Corner!! THIS IS SLEEPING GAS!!
Eiichiro Oda: You mean they already got to us?! And, hey, look I’m untied.
Me: SCOTT! GO NOW!! EIICHRIO ODA! TIE YOURSELF UP AGAIN!!
Eiichiro Oda: Oh, okay.
(SLAMS ON GAS PEDAL)
(Helicopter firing (bullets, if that wasn’t obvious))
Scott: Phew, Good thing I got the premium bullet-proof van.
(Bullets fly inside van)
Me: I thought you said this was bullet-proof!!!
Jerry: Like I said, never trust the American mafia.
Eiichiro Oda: AAAHHH!! I need to finish One Piece before I die!!!
Me: Quick, say what the actual treasure, the One Piece is and what happens at the end.
Eiichiro Oda: The One Piece is-
Scott: WHAT THE (please use appropiate expletive)!!!
Me: No, man. Don’t interrupt Oda when he is about to say what the treasure is. (whispers): Just like a stupid movie. Go ahead Oda-sensei! SORRY for the INTERRUPTION!
Eiichiro Oda: Right, so the One Piece is-
Me, Oda, Jerry: WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!! WHY ARE WE FALLING?!?!
Scott: Tried to tell you guys.

Different News Broadcaster: So, they fell through this giant hole, portal thing, and then-
Executive: I THINK they get the picture. They all die in the end.
Different News Broadcaster: NO, ACTUALLY!!
Executive: “Actually”, this Question Boner has been going on too long.
Different News Broadcaster: It’s “Corner,” sir.
Executive: Who cares. Roll the last minute comments.

Did you see the Music Awards?! Because I didn’t. I did hear a part of Kesha’s song, though.
Oh. I have recently been launched into a quest to find all music that I like. No matter who the artist is, what they’re singing about and when it came out. That means I am literally listening to everything from Beethoven to Bieber. Of course, I can decide to not listen to an artist, but only after I have listened to at least a few of their songs. But, talking about Kesha, she’s not bad and I really like Die Young (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKknG8b-Z-4), but everything she sings about, and I mean, like, EVERY SONG is about sex. Not about a boyfriend or a friend or having fun. Sex, and just sex. That’s a little weird. But, anyway, in my quest, I am often asking people I know for their favorite artists. That even means you, You. I mean, Vy. So, please stop reading this annoying comment and tell me who or what are your favorite musicians! Yeah, for music!! HAHAHA!!!

THAT WAS DEFINITELY THE BEST QUESTION BONER YET!! I mean, question corner. I WAS LITERALLY LOL-ING. “Assassin’s Creed or Halo?…” “Layton!” HAHAHAHAHA
Anyway, music! I have to admit, Kesha’s songs are super catchy even though she apparently brushes her teeth with a bottle of jack! In terms of my favorite artists, um… I’m just gonna rattle off some people here: I’ve loved Coldplay, Mcfly, and Jason Mraz since forever! More recently, I’ve been obsessed with Fun, Awolnation, Foster the People, and this lesser known dude named Jhameel! Oh yeah, and I like Adele and Linkin Park and Neon Trees too! Though to be honest I’ll listen to pretty much anything as long as it’s good. Good luck on your valiant music search!

Since we’re on the topic of One Piece (We weren’t.) Shut up, The Enigma. Ever heard the German version of the first song? Yeah, so while the first English dub of the One Piece song was a rap, the Germans were listening to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAHIXJ26SMw. Really cool. But, for better or worse, all German openings after the first were just the Japanese song with German lyrics. Without a doubt the best One Piece opening that is not of Japanese origin. The greatest opening ever is the fifteenth, We Go!

Whoaaaa that German opening is actually awesome! I’m glad they didn’t mess it up like we did! (With that ridiculous rap) I also have to agree that “We Go!” is the best opening. Usually when I watch anime I skip the opening (yes yes I know– that’s terrible and I’m skipping the best part! All my nerdy friends have already yelled at me) but when I watch One Piece I don’t skip “We Go!” Because it’s too awesome!

I love the way the first interviewer puts quotation marks around your name. ‘So, “Vy” (if that is your real name…)’

Anyway, F minus? No way! You get an A. Not only did you successfully score a job, you successfully dodged the statistics job. I say the employers deserve an F minus for not letting you know in advance what the job involves.

No worries! I know you’re incredibly busy. To be honest, I’m shocked that I’ve even been able to post anything lately!
THANK YOU! I’m so excited for my job! And I’m also glad I managed to land one, despite messing that interview up! Well, it was good practice. 😛

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! I FINALLY DID IT!!!! I FIGURED YOU OUT, VY!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! ALL OF THE MEETING WITH DIFFERENT COMIC ARTISTS, THE LOVE OF COMICS, THE REPORTS OF FUNNY THINGS IN YOUR LIFE; I FIGURED ALL OF IT OUT VY!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I FIGURED THIS OUT AT TWO O’ CLOCK IN THE MORNING!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! WHAT DO I MEAN BY ALL OF THIS?!?!?! YOUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT NAME, “I think in comics.” IT IS ACTUALLY A REFERENCE TO “EVERYONE”!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! THAT’S RIGHT, I FIGURED IT OUT!! IN YOUR POST ABOUT ART SPIEGELMAN, YOU WROTE THAT HE SAID THAT WE, AS IN HUMANS, THINK IN PICTURES, NOT IN WORDS OR VIDEO. BUT, I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND UNTIL I READ THE INTRODUCTION TO JIMMY CORRIGAN AND STARTED THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU SAY YOU THINK IN COMICS!! CHRIS WARE ALSO STATED IN HIS INTRO THAT WE THINK IN COMICS, AND THAT WHILE COMICS HAVE HAD A PATHETIC EXISTENCE, (BEING ONLY FUNNIES IN NEWSPAPERS AND ACTION GRAPHIC NOVELS READ ONLY BY YOUNG BOYS AND GEEKS/NERDS), THAT THEY WILL RISE AS THE SUPREME MEDIUM, DUE TO THE FACT THAT HUMANS ARE GETTING DUMBER. BUT FOR NOW, IT IS ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT COMICS ARE THE MEDIUM OF CHOICE FOR THE HUMAN MIND AND THAT WE ALL “THINK IN COMICS”!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! THANKS VY, I NEVER WOULD HAVE FIGURED THAT OUT WITHOUT YOU!! AND THANK YOU CHRIS WARE AND ART SPIEGELMAN FOR STATING SUCH TRUTHS!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!! WE ALL THINK IN COMICS!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THAT WAS THE GREATEST THiNG TO READ AT 9 IN THE MORNING
You’re right!! Although, I came up with the title of this blog before I met Art Spiegelman and Chris Ware! I named it “I think in comics” because I will actually live my life and think, at certain times, how that moment will make a good comic and how to lay out the panels and draw it out!
But the more I blog, the more appropriate the title is! You’re right– everybody thinks in comics to some extent, in snatches of images and dialogue. Especially with the Internet on the rise, where it’s easier to combine text and images in short little sound bytes! YOU FIGURED ME OUT!! YOU GOT ME!!!

Vy!! Guess What?! OK, besides the point that there is almost no way that you would be -(SHUT UP!!!)
Thank you, The Enigma.
Anyway, I was reading V for Vendetta, and when V (not you (by that, I mean, not “you” as in Vy Nguyen (did you know that your name sounds very similar to the main character of V for Vendetta))) went up to the building with the pedophile minister and his assistant girl, he said, “Pleased to meet you. I am a man of wealth and fame.” It is later stated that V claimed to be the Devil, which is something that he never actually said. HOWEVER, saying, “Pleased to meet you. I am a man of wealth and fame.” IS A REFERENCE TO THE DEVIL, but ONLY in a song. The song Sympathy for the Devil by the Rolling Stones starts out saying these words exactly, so it is obviously a reference, but…OH, I DON’T KNOW!! I just thought that this was a cool reference from a cool band. Rolling Stones!! HAHAHAHA!! Currently listening to your Awolnation recommendation. hahaha.

V FOR VENDETTA! After that movie came out, for the next YEAR people would go up to me and say, “Vy… did you know that there’s a movie called V for Vendetta?! Like your NAME!” to which my response would be, “Yes. I know. I’ve seen the movie AND read the comic!” Even today I still get it now and then… like NOW! 😀
But I never picked up on that reference! Whoa! That is super cool– mind blown! You, sir, know your classic rock. I need to brush up on that particular genre myself!

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Classic rock is what I was first taught to love of music!!!!(taught by myself of course) I mean, NOW I listen to EVERYTHING, but back then, (it was “LITERALLY” 3 MONTHS AGO), I would only listen to CLASSIC ROCK!!

But, seriously, being the perfectionist that I am, (Heh, “Vy”, heh. That story with the chipmunks and elephants asking you if you saw that movie with cups and pens and tissues, heh. That was hilarious. That “was” what you were talking about, right.) I must clarify my own mistake. It was not that V did not claim to be the Devil, it was simply that this conversation was very important for that chapter, and they never referenced back to when he said that he was a man of wealth and taste. He did still say that he was the Devil and that he would do the Devil’s work. But, as I already said, Rolling Stones reference. Speaking of references, V said, “I am the devil and I come to do the devil’s work.” THIS is actually a reference too. And it was emphasized for a moment in the comic. This phrase is said to have come from Charles Manson during his famous murders at the estate of Sharon Tate (including her); HOWEVER, this phrase is actually wrong, as Manson was NEVER ACTUALLY AT ANY OF THE KILLINGS. No this phrase was said by one of Manson’s followers to another and he said, “I’m the devil, I’m here to do the devil’s business. Give me all your money.” So, yeah, I’m crazy about being perfectly right. Yeah, for perfection. It absorbs your life! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Oh, before I forget, Have you ever seen any of the One Piece movies? I heard that they are no where near as good as the show or manga, and that the creators are completely different people, but the actors are the same. Never seen any myself. And, apart from the movies, there is a One Piece “movie” that was the first One Piece animation EVER! It is what some animators made before the show was created. It is called One Piece: Defeat the Pirate Ganzak! Ever seen that either? Yeah, for One Piece!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

OK! RECOMMEND ME SOME CLASSIC ROCK! Then I can join the ranks of people who can enjoy classic rock and feel old school!

I actually haven’t seen any of the One Piece movies! Though I feel like I should have! I think I started to watch one, but was turned off by the fact that it simply wasn’t as good. And I heard that Eiichiro Oda only has a slight influence on the movies! Like, he doesn’t write them or anything! Although now I want to see that first One Piece movie. It sounds interesting– like a One Piece pilot, almost!